There is nothing sweeter and
more precious in this sin cursed world than a newborn baby. They are tiny,
innocent, and totally dependent on others. Not only is it expected for a baby to
cry, whine, throw fits, be needy, and fussy; it’s totally acceptable. They are growing
and learning their place in this strange and confusing world. It’s amazing how we don’t seems to mind the
spit-up in our hair, the crazy amounts of stinky diapers, the messes, the never ending pile of dirty little clothes, and the lack of sleep that comes with a darling baby.
However, none of this would be expected or accepted if that darling was now 20.
Ummm, nope!
And why is that?
Well, because that big darling, that
is now 20 is not a helpless, needy, tiny, innocent, totally dependent little baby anymore. That 20 year old darling should have grown up and
become an educated, self- sufficient, independent part of society. That big baby should be well on it's way to adulthood and should
be trying to find their own place in this strange and confusing world. And if
they have not, there is a big problem!!!
Sweet sisters, it is exactly the same as Christians. The Bible describes a new
believer as a new born babe. Just like a new born baby needs milk and needs
time to grow, so does a new Christian. It’s expected and accepted for a baby to
drink milk and it's expected and accepted for a new Christian to be a baby Christian. New Christians need time to grow, time to mature, time to take those first steps and time to learn.
I Peter 2:2
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby:”
As a new Christian, there is
an eagerness about learning the Word of God. Do you remember what it was like? There was an earnest desire to hold on to
every truth you come across and cling to every promise you found in the Bible. You would cling to it and
apply it to your life, and you diligently allowed those truths to fill in all those empty places you desperately needed to be filled. You may not have even understood what was happening, you just knew you craved the Word of God. Just like a little baby craves its milk with demanding cries, we would embrace the milk of the word as we sucked it down happily.
However, during the growth process, there will be times a new Christian does not understand a
truth, a conviction, or a standard. They may get whiny, fussy, and throw a fit. They may cause a stink or a mess but that is expected from a baby. It's all part of the process.
This growing process is not always easy and requires patience. This baby Christian is finding its place in a new
strange and confusing world. They need to be taught, loved, and babied at times.
They need time and patience to grow in grace and grow in knowledge.
But a seasoned Christian
should not live as a baby Christian. There should be a huge difference in their
lives. Yes, we should still be growing, and still be learning. But we should not be crying for the bottle anymore.
Hebrews 5:12-14
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye
have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles
of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and no of strong meat. For
every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is
a babe, But strong meat belongeth to them thas are of full age, even those who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”
An adult can’t live on milk
alone, neither should a seasoned Christian live on the milk of the word. Just as an adult needs substance, a seasoned Christian needs the meat of the word. He needs to be grounded in the
Doctrine of the Word. He should be skilled in the teachings of God, and should
be mature in his faith and knowledge in the Word.
II Peter 3:18
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
So dear buddies in Christ,
you should constantly be growing. If you are the same Christian you were 5,10, 15 years ago, then it’s time to grow up. You should not be complacent, stagnant, or
stationary; you should always be moving and growing in the Lord. You should not get
offended over every little thing that does not go your way. You should not be throwing temper tantrums or hissy fits like a toddler. You should be grounded, secure, and mature in your faith.
So today, let’s
take a good look into the mirror and ask ourselves if we are still acting like baby Christians, or are we growing in the Lord and maturing in His Word. Let’s
grow up and go do great things for God.
